“The need to express myself artistically developed at an
early age.When I
was five years old, my new box of 64 Crayola colors spoke to me.They said, ‘We are magic.’Unfortunately, my parents said, ‘You’re grounded!’
when they saw the mess I had made of the basement walls.Undaunted, I spent the rest of my formative years
improving my techniques and experimenting with different
mediums.Still, after forty years, a wave of creative energy hits
whenever I open a new box of crayons.”

“I
have worked in several mediums over the last 15 years, but at
this point, I am stuck on fiber because the possibilities seem
limitless.I enjoy
experimenting with different materials, finding ways to add
texture and depth to my work.The main attraction for me is the endless choice of color
that fiber affords.Over
the years, my fiber work has changed, and several techniques
have come and gone.Currently
I am concentrating on machine-sewn fiber bowls and
wall-hangings.The
fact that each piece is unique makes beginning a new project
challenging and exciting.Once I start, I never know exactly what I will end up
with.”

“Through
experimentation with different materials and construction
methods, these unique bowls were created using a technique that
I developed through trial and error.By the very nature of their construction, they are
one-of-a-kind works of art.No two are exactly the same.I use cotton or wool fibers and sewing thread to create a
piece that is stitched entirely on a sewing machine.Embellishments range from hand-sewn beads to specialty
yarns to appliquéd fabric.Some recycled materials are used.Variations in materials and construction determine the
shape, size and weight of each piece.”

“I
do not feel that I lack discipline or the ability to take art
seriously.I am
just curious and enjoy using different materials to satisfy that
curiosity.My main
goals are to lift the spirit and keep a sense of wonder and
mystery alive.”

*********

Self-taught
artist Justine Dennis creates these whimsical works of art in
her Lexington, Kentucky home studio, which she refers to as “a
small messy room…piled from floor to ceiling with materials
accumulated over the past 15 years.”She keeps her work fresh and fun by experimenting with
many different materials.She
is able to switch from fiber to clay, paper or paint when she
hits a creative snag.Justine’s
work has been shown in numerous exhibitions and galleries in
Kentucky and across the U.S.

“I paint contemporary landscapes on
silk.My
inspiration comes from my deep respect for and fascination with
the natural world.The
multi-layered patterns of nature are so complex that they often
appear random.The
natural color, light and variety of large and small trees in the
area where I live captivate me and provide inspiration for my
work.”

“I combine textile techniques
with painting and drawing to create my paintings.Guided by my artistic vision and emotion, I paint a scene
with generous color on wet silk, which has been pre-dyed using
various techniques and stretched on a formica board.When the painted silk is dry, I then embellish with wax oil
crayon and more paint.I
finalize my piece by isolating a specific area of the painting,
cutting it out and stretching it over acid-free foam board, much
like you would stretch a canvas, then assembling it with a mat.The mat is covered with another section of the painting
and stretched in the same manner.The collaged pieces are fused to either silk or rice
paper.I use
dry-mounting tissue as an adhesive.”

“I work alone, with no
assistants.I
complete each painting personally from inspiration to framing.I use only professional grade art supplies and
conservation approved framing techniques.”

*********

Louisville native Kim Huber
earned her B.A. from the Louisville School of Art in 1981.She also participated in a Parsons School of Design
summer program in Tokyo in 1982, and attended the Ann Hyde
Institute of Design in Denver, Colorado in 1990.

Kim’s award-winning work
has been included in numerous exhibitions across the U.S., from
Tampa, Florida to Rochester, New York to Santa Fe, New Mexico
and beyond.

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